Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 Ir0njack wrote:
I like the sound of a saurian race, but I'd put my own spin on it. I was thinking that maybe have the race first of use heavy genetic engineering for most troops that would lead to a sort of Ogre kingdoms like army with hulking lizard warriors as you rank.and file troops, more elite troops with armor, a sort of bionic berserker, shield carrier , smaller sniper/infiltrator types, some warbeast, and maybe four types of rudimentary vehicles transport/tank/walker/flyer.

For their technology I would do something that's in between ork scrap and imperial fancy gothic but with a focus on crystals as a power source prominently displayed

For actual table top performance I would say that the army would mainly rely on its durability, due to the crystal technology their weapon are generally of not the greatest strength but have a charging up mechanic to become at least somewhat of a threat. Have them be good at melee and the means to get them there but actually have to work for it, not just roll the across the board and wreck face.

There's my two cents, it was fun to come up with!

A charging army of these bad boys might even give Thunderwolf Cavalry second thoughts...although he did get beat down by a human boxer...

An alien race vinculated to the Chaos Gods.

There are plenty of them, so will be nice see them on the game. Not need to be mutated, just adore them (like the reptilian race that adore slaanesh on the heresy)


And, even if not totally new race...MORE GROTS xDD. An option to play a full or nearly full grot army is so sensual xD

A race of evil space marines who follow the chaos gods and who are a threat and do not keep failing.

We all know the current chaos fodder marines are stand ins for how tough people are. They are even writting messages on demon primarchs hearts. Time to send 5 marines into the warp to kill the gods next?

I'd go with Dark Mechanicus, there's lots of potential for some really weird, messed-up tech

 Unyielding Hunger wrote:
I'm surprised no one has said Felinids yet. That would be hilarious.

Felinids already exist, hence cannot be created again.

Owl bears... in space.

But in all honesty, undead. I know they've got plague chaos and such, but I mean more like ghosts, wraiths, skeletons, poltergeist out of the TV and right onto your wargaming board.

You could have some kind of rule that you get to raise the opponent's dead models or "possess" and they come on as a debuffed unit of yours or something. Literally using your opponents models against him.

 Skinflint Games wrote:
I'd go with Dark Mechanicus, there's lots of potential for some really weird, messed-up tech

They already exist in fluff--and what's more, there's already a significant Dark Mechanicus element in the CSM book.

Helbrutes, Obliterators, Heldrakes, Defilers, Maulerfiends, and Forgefiends are all DM items.

Point of contention: Heldrakes aren't dark mechanicus; they are space marines that have become obsessed with the craft they pilot and merged in to it (kinda like a flying mutilator). Otherwise fair point.

There's actually a bit of contention in that regard; as we don't know where the provenance of the craft they had to start with is from.

It sure isn't anything that we've seen yet from the Heresy.

nareik wrote:
Point of contention: Heldrakes aren't dark mechanicus; they are space marines that have become obsessed with the craft they pilot and merged in to it (kinda like a flying mutilator). Otherwise fair point.

Yeah a Heldrake is pretty much a Hell Talon whose space marine pilot/crew have turned to chaos, as well as the machine spirit of the flyer being corrupted, so then the two entitys fused into one and became a chaos flyer of death

Gave this moar thought - and if a new race would be sucsessful it has to fill a void, or do something not done elsewhere in the game.

We already have heavy infantry good/evil
Light infantry good/evil
Warp demons
Big space bugs
Evil terminating robots
Space elves good/evil
Orks cause every fantasy setting has em
Some random just because ambiguous aliens

So what's missing?
Arguably the game breaks down into good/evil or shades of said, with
Space marines, gaurd, sisters, eldar, and tau falling on the "good" side
And demons, chaos, cultists, orks and nids and crons taking evil side. So a 5-6 imbalance. Meaning a "good aligned" faction would be a proper fit to bring things into balance.

On the good side of things we have the aliens who try to help but are not trusted, the massive human empire, with its elite forces and its "every man" army. But what we don't have is something really awsome .....

So - cybertronian rip offs. Models that are like Knights, so a army of maybe 10 models max at 2k. No "man size infantry" just big robots - that can transform from monstrous /Garg creatures into vehicles /super heavy vehicles. Depending on the "mode" they have diff abilities and load outs. Switching modes is done just like fliers going from swoop to glide.
Most would be maybe rhino / dreadnought size, with maybe a few coming in at land raider/riptide level, and then the 0-1 super guy who's a knight/baneblade in comparison.

Each class of robot is a base cost with a build your own loadout. Unit size is small - like 1-3 guys each, the big ones are solo. And weapons would scale as well. The biggest guns reserved for the biggest guys. But list wise would work similar to tau crisis suits.

I'd probably get lazy and create another marines. People like marines.

Dorfs!

Hirstute, rotund humans with slightly better than IG tech, but totally inferior to SMs...

Of course, the very idea of Space Dwarfs is utterly ridiculous. Nobody would want that...

luky7dayz wrote:I always imagine that the tyrannid are being chased by a more mechanized tyrannic being, with large tanks, like a small horde of av 11 tanks that shred infantry to death. I think it would be interesting if the tanks were essentially sentient, and had no drivers itself, just biomorph hybrid tanks

As a dedicated tanker i like this idea!

A Self replicating AI spreading through the galaxy with many different robot warriors.

Some aliens from a total aquatic planet. Think Alantis mixed with campy sci-fi aliens. Maybe even a Space whale in there. . .

Techwise think Steampunk meets 1950s Sci-Fi. A lot of harpoon looking weapons that shoot electrical charges (Possibly Haywire).

The more I write this, I can only think Gungan Grand Army from Star Wars. . .

Could be a horde army or elite army. I just want flying submarines.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Skinflint Games wrote:
I'd go with Dark Mechanicus, there's lots of potential for some really weird, messed-up tech

They already exist in fluff--and what's more, there's already a significant Dark Mechanicus element in the CSM book.

Helbrutes, Obliterators, Heldrakes, Defilers, Maulerfiends, and Forgefiends are all DM items.

Baneblades, Titans, plasma guns, power armor, augments and Valkyries are all Mechanicum items. That did not stop GW from creating a Mechanicum faction (or two) with really innovative units like Vanguards and Kastellans, or new rules like Doctrina Imperatives.

The most advanced Mechanicum equipment (Titans, Ordo Reductio machines, Ark ships) is always accompanied or commanded by tech-priests and/or Magos. That Defilers isn't accompanied by designated Sorcerors, Dark Magus or something similar is a sign that the creatures mentioned above are fairly low on the tech scale. So there is a lot of possibilites to create a Dark Mechanicus faction that is really unique regarding units, force structure, relationships to other Factions and rules.

superkuf wrote:
The most advanced Mechanicum equipment (Titans, Ordo Reductio machines, Ark ships) is always accompanied or commanded by tech-priests and/or Magos.

That Defilers isn't accompanied by designated Sorcerors, Dark Magus or something similar is a sign that the creatures mentioned above are fairly low on the tech scale.

If you look at the recent IG formations, a unit of 3 Hellhounds or Artillery requires a Tech-Priest, but a squadron of Russes doesn't.

Defilers are Daemonic machines. They are alive and self-repair. Maybe they eat a Tech-Priest before they head out.

Personally, I would bring the Men of Iron back. Some idiot tech adept fires up an STC and next thing you know there are a heck of a lot of pissed automatons knocking on the IoM's door. Bit too close to Necrons admittedly but it would be fun to see the sins of the past catch up with the IoM.

like these?

 Zaku212 wrote:
factions with obvious and relatable goals.

I'll be honest here, I'd rather an "obvious and relatable goal" than the lazy excuse for not wanting to actually have to write that is "mysterious mysteriousness of the mystery that is mysterious",

Tyranids? Obvious and relatable goals. They want to eat stuff and further the hive fleet. Necrons? Obvious and relatable. They're bitter and hateful and want to lash out at those around them while reclaiming their old empire. Even Chaos is obvious and relatable-- push for more influence for the Chaos Gods, who want dominion over realspace just as they have over warpspace.

 luky7dayz wrote:
I always imagine that the tyrannid are being chased

There is so much potential with that. I always thought the Tyranids were running from something as well. It would be awesome to have a faction that even the Tyranids are afraid of!

Create proper vampire counts in space. Via the the necron nightbringer being the cause.

I thought blood angels were the official vampire ripoffs in 40k. Honestly though a splinter IoM kingdom would be cool because The IoM seems too monolithic, too omnipresent. Going darker than the IoM might be challenging, because it's every flavor of awful and oppressive. However Space vampires might be interesting, but it could just as easily be ruled by space marines who treat humans as chattel, and have a horrible caste system with space marines living in glorious palaces with normal humans living in sub IoM conditions. Maybe it starts with the inquisition trying to exterminate the space wolves, and the loyalist chapters having to choose sides as an IoM wide revolt starts.

 Grimgold wrote:
I thought blood angels were the official vampire ripoffs in 40k. Honestly though a splinter IoM kingdom would be cool because The IoM seems too monolithic, too omnipresent. Going darker than the IoM might be challenging, because it's every flavor of awful and oppressive. However Space vampires might be interesting, but it could just as easily be ruled by space marines who treat humans as chattel, and have a horrible caste system with space marines living in glorious palaces with normal humans living in sub IoM conditions. Maybe it starts with the inquisition trying to exterminate the space wolves, and the loyalist chapters having to choose sides as an IoM wide revolt starts.

Sort of, with all the blood symbolism and imagery, but they never went as far as drinking or consuming blood.

Closest thing to vamps so far in 40k are probably either the Sons of Malice, who got kicked out of the ioM by themail inquisition for eating the corpses of those who they bested in combat, or the soul drinkers traitor legion.

 Grimgold wrote:
I thought blood angels were the official vampire ripoffs in 40k. Honestly though a splinter IoM kingdom would be cool because The IoM seems too monolithic, too omnipresent. Going darker than the IoM might be challenging, because it's every flavor of awful and oppressive. However Space vampires might be interesting, but it could just as easily be ruled by space marines who treat humans as chattel, and have a horrible caste system with space marines living in glorious palaces with normal humans living in sub IoM conditions. Maybe it starts with the inquisition trying to exterminate the space wolves, and the loyalist chapters having to choose sides as an IoM wide revolt starts.

I would prefer if it was not space marines but like the counts of fantasy that way it gives the ordo hereticus more interesting stuff to do. Trying to take over the imperium from the inside and their big goal would be to bring back the emperor as a undead god or something. Hell it could even be the eldar death god that spawns that causes the spread of vampirism among the eldar and humans to get revenge on chaos.

The Unnamed Empire is the reason the Tyranids exist.

The Unnamed built their society using a form of science and tech based on necroscience, or death energy. In pursuit of immortality they commit heinous experiments to stave off their own fears. The first leap they made was in an attempt to bring the dead back to life. This way the greatest leaders, heroes and thinkers could lead them into the future! This sadly led them only to bringing the corpse back as an automaton. Mindless, devoid of the spark of thought but extremely tough.

Realizing it would be easier to extend the life of the living than to bring back the dead they made another leap. The Ghoul program was crafted through injections which increased the speed, strength and durability of a normal empire citizen. Though life was extended by many years the mind would still degrade to the point the Ghoul would be more beast than anything else. The other problem was the requirement of flesh to keep the body as fresh as possible.

The third major leap came about using a requirement of many years of injections, genetic manipulations and experimentations. This created a being far above normal standards of human strength, speed and durability. It allowed for near limitless immortality and the mind would not degrade. To maintain this required large amounts of blood. Sadly, the first of the group died as they had to use their teeth which were not sharp and poorly suited. So they eventually developed a series of tubes and needles some built directly into their bodies others a part of suits to help them take in the large amounts of blood they require.

As the years went on a huge issue came up. How to maintain such a society. They had already removed all opposition and allies from many galaxies and their own living population was dwindling under the dead. So in search of a renewable resource they found a strange alien species that multiplied at an alarming rate. Quickly seizing the opportunity they began harvesting this species. At first it worked wonders and helped them advance their science. Unknowingly the species was highly psychic and one day attempted to reach out to the empire...but you obviously couldn't have your food talk to you as you ate it right?

So the next steps were to eliminate the psychic ability of this race as the years of necroscience had proven was that psychic energy could not exist with death energy. Now communication cut off the empire continued until they noticed the alien species causing problems due to their individuality. This made things unpredictable...less than desired. No stranger to removing individuality the empire began to do so on this alien species.

Unknowingly this was the beginning of what the Imperium would called the Tyranids. It started slowly at first but quickly slipped from their grasp. In blind pursuit of their own immortal perfection the Nids rapidly evolved to a state where one of two things would happen. The Unnamed empire would either die under its renewable resource or they had to let it go. So they let it go.

So now the Tyranids wander from galaxy to galaxy. Running from those who enslaved, created and harvested them. Hoping either to outrun the Unnamed empire or gather enough strength to crush it. Sadly, the Unnamed empire uses this to their advantage. First, the Tyranids due to their nature being drawn to harvesting biomass guides the Unnamed Empire to new civilizations. This means new technology to help with their sciences, this means new materials living and dead to work with. The Tyranids act as a buffer...creating a "my enemy of my enemy is my friend" case where the Unnamed Empire can manipulate those they meet and use the Nids as a shield to cover the Unnamed's primary goal. Thirdly, as the Tyranid force grows from devouring life, the Unnamed empire scalpels off pieces of the hive fleets for sustenance. Lastly, and most importantly, the Shadows of the Warp acts as a shield against psychic forces which they have little defense for at this point.

The Unnamed empire uses a mixture of shambling tough zombies with rudimentary weapons, weapon platforms integrated with gigantic patchwork frankensteins, chimera like beasts of massive scale, inhuman creatures of various degrees from brutal armored ghouls to beings of near perfection...the "vampires". Alongside them are the rare and highly prized living of their race who carry an assortment of tools and weapons that function both in war and in the operating room.

Sorry if this is rough. Backpacking Japan right now, is actually an idea I have with a war/skirmish game I've been thinking about doing, the names would obviously be set in stone. Concept is simply a way to try and integrate an actual Undead race with actual physical bodies without resorting to "magic did it". Instead it's "science did it"! So ya, just a thought.

I would introduce one of the lost Space Marine chapters struck from Imperial records , only it would be revealed to be all women who had survived the process to become marines and somehow honorably lost in the warp until now, unchanged by the Chaos Gods...or returned from some other equally dangerous yet prestigious mission from the edge of known space or maybe fighting Necrons or something.

On a personal level I feel the lore has needed a soft reboot to make most human factions unisex, including space marines and the imperial guard unisex for a good long while now, but this would be an interesting middle ground. Allowing for a lost chapter to return, while fulfilling the Emperor's wish to create an all female chapter.

Yes technically there are the Sisters of Battle, but part of the reason they never sold well to start is that they just weren't actual space marines. Women gamers don't want to feel segregated and they are the fastest growing group of gamers these days. But well made female Marines and Imperial Guard in plastics would bring a lot of new players into the game if it was handled with taste instead of overt sexualization (no need for boostiers, just make them look a bit more like real people/empowered women instead of tiny cartoon sex objects.)

Herecomesyourman wrote:
I would introduce one of the lost Space Marine chapters struck from Imperial records ,

only it would be revealed to be all women

On a personal level I feel the lore has needed a soft reboot to make most human factions unisex, including space marines and the imperial guard unisex for a good long while now,

Yes technically there are the Sisters of Battle, but part of the reason they never sold well to start is that they just weren't actual space marines. Women gamers don't want to feel segregated and they are the fastest growing group of gamers these days. But well made female Marines and Imperial Guard in plastics would bring a lot of new players into the game if it was handled with taste instead of overt sexualization (no need for boostiers, just make them look a bit more like real people/empowered women instead of tiny cartoon sex objects.)

... we've seen this before. Astral Claws...

... OMG, no. We don't need (or want) girl SMs - that's what Sisters fill in for.

... and no. Guard is already integrated in many regiments, including Catachan and Tanith, along with the Commissar corps. It is canon that there are all-female regiments as well.

For something new, perhaps not. But upending the 40k background isn't the place to fix this. Tell me, how many female pilots are in the hot, new X-wing game?

Well 40K did at one time have a Saurian race. it was a short lived experiment but people still have some models for that.

The trouble with any new race is, you have to determine how they haven't already been involved to this point...and... why they would GET involved, having been so successfully hiding from what is a chaotic and tumultuous universe at war. That also means you have to explain how they got there, and who their natural enemies are. Conquest is a goal i suppose but given the sheer volume of enemies in that space sector, it seems far more likely that they are here for a specific enemy or set of enemies.

The IMperium makes the most sense. It's more than easily imagined that the Imperiums callous opinion of Xenos led them to commit exterminatus against a far flung colony of this new threat and they started to gain information about this and learned to their dismay that there is a nenormous section of space with an enormous number of habitable planets. but of greatest interest is the esoteric Imperium who attacked them.

Seeing the many enemies the Imperium has, they may decide to be "of service" to those enemies, offering independent fleets who would work under their command for a time when attacking Imperial forces. it isn't hard to imagine several of those allies trying to backstab them or steal their technology afterwards.

So a biomorphic lifeform that can take the form of other factions would be a slick way to explain the way they are able to gain information about them undetected, and perhaps their technology could be centered around energy transference (in other words, leeching from existing power sources, or turning energy to matter and matter to energy).

They might be powerful energy beings themselves who have mastered converting their own forms into matter when needed, which would REALLY explain why they could stay undetected.

As modeling goes this would allow near infinite possibilities as to the forms they take. They could have abilities they can turn on which essentially invert the STR and AP of weapons fired against them. they could have units who know how to turn armor into energy, weakening the hulls of enemy war machines. They could blast an enemy with energy at the cost of their own toughness. they could spend a round recharging themselves to their original toughness or go kamikazi and expend themselves in order to do more damage.

i dunno. I can think of a lot of possibilities there.

several of the above responses are similar to what I would want... but basically Cylons meet reapers meet geth

Every civilization has probably had an AI uprising. Given the history humanity has probably gone through several of these. nobody ever truly wins against the Ai they just always come to the logical conclusion that they can adapt and live in harsher environments than biological beings. as the encounter new and newer Ai they adapt and merge technologies, they created the tyranids to strip areas of bio mass and for new civilizations to be created with new tech for them to absorb. They usually avoid direct combat but since this area of the universe is showing heavy resistance to the swarm they have dispatched a cleansing force to the milky way.

unique abilities

night fighting active the entire game, their best tactic is to cut off all sources of light to a planet, like the tau they would have night vision

every unit has an armor value not a toughness value though basic small machines would be AV8 (T4 equivalent)

all units have armor plating instead of armor values so 4+ or better save depending on the machine.

Cylon portion would be that certain units are infiltrated into other cultures and beings already in flesh machines. can emerge (deep strike) into a unit and engage in close combat and/or suicide bomb it.

defeated larger units drop collector units that recall the data of fallen lesser machines backing up their data. if a larger machine is killed place a marker it is immediately treated as an objective worth 3 points at the end of the game.